ALGONAC — Facing expiring collective
bargaining agreements for custodial and transportation services, Algonac
Community Schools considered privatizing them to save between $150,000 and
$200,000 annually. Algonac asked private vendors to bid on transportation
provision, but ultimately accepted union concessions amounting to about $20,000,
according to The (New Baltimore) Voice.

The union's concessions
included cutting allowable sick days, cutting paid holidays and changing
overtime rules. "The concessions they made were difficult but we appreciate
them," said Superintendent Michael Sharrow.

Bus drivers for the
district did not bargain to receive health benefits, as was the case in many
districts in the state. The district, however, provides 16.94 percent of
its payroll to the school pension fund. Contracting typically switches the employees
from pension funds to defined-contribution retirement plans.

School administrators have discussed
concessions with the custodial union, but have not sought contracting bids for
that service.